said about Gilera, Piaggio or the TPG deal - so who knows what the future holds ? In case you haven’t already heard about it here is the Gilera ‘compact’. Initially a 50cc Thanks to everyone for making the AGM a twist and go model which may eventually success - the best ever attendance ! The appear in 180cc four-stroke automatic good news - Les Wassall has taken over as guise. What a head-turner - but just Membership Secretary (see back page for imagine what a 750 four-stroke ‘bialbero’ contact details). The bad news - Andy new Nordwest could have looked like or a Wallington is unable to continue as conventional 125 two-stroke GFR powered Treasurer so we need a volunteer. Don’t bike with this styling ? The Gilera ‘Compact’ wait for the AGM next year, get in touch You should all find 1999/2000 NOW ! Oh and I might as well warn you membership cards enclosed with this issue now I want to stand down next year so a and all being well the Membership List will new Secretary/Editor or even better be published in late October. By the way perhaps Secretary and Editor will be the excuse for this issue being late is a bout needed. of bronchitis just as it was nearing completion :( I have been holding back publication of this issue in hopes of momentous news from the Milan Show. However, at least as far as MCN are concerned nothing was Dave Riley Claudia Cruttwell Dik Stapley Robin Sims Nigel Lee Ian Hambly Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the meeting held at the Minutes of the sixth ‘Blue Bell’, Belchford on 5 July 1998 having been published in GeN#17, Dick Stapley Annual General proposed and David Riley seconded that Meeting of the Gilera they be accepted as a true record. Network held at the Chairman’s Report ‘Stewponey’, Stourton, David Champion reported that paid up membership currently stood at 110 but Worcs. on 22 August that this usually grew each year by renewal 1999. time to around 130. Bikes were still changing hands quite frequently. The meeting opened at 2.20 and soon had The future looks very interesting. Gilera an all time record attendance of 18 will continue to manufacture sports members. The Chairman opened the scooters and lightweight motorcycles. The meeting by welcoming everyone to the Runner is selling well and a new twist and ‘Stewponey’ and explaining why the go ‘compact’ model will be announced at meeting had not been held in conjunction the Milan show. Also to be announced will with the Cadwell track day this year. be the fact that Piaggio have a designer working on three large capacity machines Apologies for absence for 2002. They will be a 1000cc four, a large trail bike and another ‘sports bike’. The Beth Davidson four will feature a Honda engine in a Pete Myers chassis designed by Bimota. Andy Wallington Piaggio has been acquired by the Texas Les Wassall Pacific Group. This is an investment company who see the potential for Members present merchandising associated with the sale of motorcycles. What effect the purchase will David Champion have on the situation regarding the supply Pete Fisher of spare parts is unclear. Roger Meadows At this point Rob Thorne interjected by Gary Cooper suggested updated bodywork for the Ian Robinson Nordwest. The Chairman referred him to Gary Menzies Dick Stapley. Keith Spackman There will be no more four stroke single Alan Jeffery (‘bialbero’) powered Gileras. The tooling Rob Pearce and design has been sold to Guzzi and it Rob Thorne seems unlikely that they will ever use it. Ritchie Round Mike Riley The tooling for most of the engines (including the GFR) has been lost except PRO’s Report for the 50cc (RK50) motor. In the absence of Ian Calvert, Pete Fisher reported that the PRO had not, as had been hoped, had the opportunity to publicise Treasurer’s Report the Gilera Network in conjunction with press releases by the factory to mark the In the absence of Andy Wallington, Pete 90th Anniversary. Fisher reported that The Gilera Network is financially secure with around £2000 in Secretary/Editor’s Report the bank, the the main outgoings being the production of the newsletter, BMF Pete Fisher reported that the cost of affiliation and Public Liability Insurance. producing the newsletter was happily staying the same and that improved David Champion said that Piaggio were services available from Office World has keen to foster liaison with clubs and hoped reduced the task of publishing ‘The GeN’. to offer increased support. David pointed The usual problem of filling it with out that the possibility that Piaggio might material remained ! want to exercise more control over our activities should be recognised. They He explained that the Internet site could certainly were not prepared to support a be much improved and developed if separate club for Runner owners and gave someone had the time. Pete confirmed the example of resistance to the formation that the domain gilera.co.uk was owned by of a club for Piaggio automatic scooters him personally but was registered to the separate to the Vespa club. This should not Gilera network. Should Piaggio indicate present a problem so long as we are aware that they considered that an official Gilera of the situation. web site should be operated by them he would be happy to give up the rights to that The Cadwell track day appears to have at domain, but would suggest that Piaggio least broken even, but it is too early to be should pay for the Network to use sure of the exact outcome. gilera.org instead. Accounts will be published in Gen#22. Election of officers [SEE PAGE 17] Ian Robinson proposed and Mike Riley Membership Secretary’s Report seconded that the committee be re-elected en-bloc with the substitution of Les Pete Fisher reported that Pete Myers did Wassall as Membership Secretary. This was not wish to remain in this position. He carried unanimously. confirmed that a steady flow of membership enquiries are received which Subscription Rates pretty much matches the rate of non-renewal. This is largely explained by The subscription rate having stood at £9 the change of hands in machines with for the last four years the Secretary asked particularly some Nordwests being in the the meeting if it should be increased. The hands of the second or third owner. Chairman proposed that in view of the healthy bank balance it should remain the Pete gave the meeting the happy news that same. Les Wassall had volunteered to take up the post. Claudia Crutwell proposed that a family membership should be introduced. Rob Pearce stated out that production with Bob Wright other one-make clubs had was put forward. rates between £15-20. The Secretary pointed out that Claudia Crutwell’s proposal other clubs often had for a family membership was monthly magazines produced seconded by Mike Riley. This to a higher quality was carried unanimously with (presentation rather than the rate to be set 1.5 times the content !). standard rate (i.e. £15). Rob suggested that the extra Any other business subscription could be used to build up a fund to start a The Secretary asked if spares scheme. This would be not for members were happy with the present buying existing spares but for arranging for system of membership renewal for all at the manufacture of unobtainable parts. the same time. The pros and cons were David pointed out that many parts were considered and the feeling was that the common with other machines. The system should stay the same. cam-belt design is registered but it should be easy to get them produced when the Rob Pearce suggested that the Membership time comes. Secretary could pay in subscription cheques received to speed up the process. ? (Sorry should have asked the name) suggested a census of parts required most Mike Riley suggested that the Spring by members and enquired about the Gathering should be at a new venue in availability of standard silencers. David view of the problem with parking. Pete explained that Gazelle supplied a stainless Fisher said that he would ask for unit which was appropriately marked. suggestions in the next ‘GeN’. Many parts were produced by subcontractors. David has approached the David Riley asked about the position factory in Italy regarding the unavailability regarding the use of unleaded fuel, David of standard silencers. champion confirmed that all Nordwests and RC600s were OK on unleaded. All David Champion proposed and Mike Riley other models were not intended for seconded that the subscription should unleaded use. He recommended the use of remain unchanged. a good additive such as Morris’s and to keep a close eye on valve clearances. The Rob Pearce proposed and Dick Stapley GFR and other high performance 2-strokes seconded that subscriptions should need high octane fuel and will require an increase to £10. For the first time in the octane booster or Lead Replacement history of the Gilera Network there was a Petrol. High mileage engines which will vote ! Rob Pearce’s proposal was voted on now not be used much may be OK for and received 13 votes for, 4 against and 1 some time. abstention. David Riley proposed a vote of thanks to he Further discussion of spares production committee. followed. It was pointed out that there were only around 250 Nordwests and Pete Fisher said that it was not yet clear 50-60 Saturnos imported, but that we what arrangements would be made for the should think about supplying parts on an AGM in 2000 and that this may depend on international basis.